Door lock mechanism



Nov. '16, 1954 H. J. ANSCHUETZ 2,694,591

DOOR LOCK MECHANISM Filed May 2, 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 V b, E

, INVENTOR. Han/6 51- J. flxzacizzeiz Nov. 16, 1954 H. J. ANSCHUETZ 2,694,591

DOOR LOCK MECHANISM Filed May 2, 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 United States Patent "MGR LOCK-MEGHANISM Harvey J Ansehuetzj-Piymouth; Mich assignor to Kaiser 'Mo'tors "Corporation, a corporation of Nevada App]ication lvlay 2, 19 50, SeriaLNo; 159,630

1"Claiin. "(CL 292-;1'6)

assemblies, of the type to which the'presentfinvention" is 'directed, have a movable bolt and a ratchet member which moves with the bolt. The ratchet member is 'engaged by a movable contactor, or detent member which is resiliently urged into engagement with the ratchet teeth. As the' bolt and ratehet'rnember move relative to the detent member theengagement of .the teeth therewith causes'a metallic clicking sound which is objectionable. According .to the present invention, a sound deadening element is interposed between the ratchet member and the detent member which engages the periphery of the ratchet teeth during the relative movement therebetween so thatthis objectionable sound is substantially reduced.

One of-the primary objects of the present invention is -'to ;pr'ovide an improved latching'mechanism' which is relatively qui'et :in operation, and ri'n'which the metallic-' sounding clicking noises are substantially reduced as the latch is operated.

Other objects. of the "invention will become apparent from the following specification, the drawings relating thereto, and from the claim -hereinafter set forth.

In the drawings, in which like numerals are used 'to designate like' -parts in the several views throughout:

-Figure' l'iis an inside elevational view'of a latch mechanism embodying features of the-present invention;

Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken substantially along the 'line-2-2"of Fig. l and showing the'side of "the-latching-mechanism in elevation;

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 1 and showing the latching mechanism in a different operative position;

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Figs. 1 and 2 and showing the latching mechanism in a different operating position;

Fig. 5 is a top plan view of the latching mechanism illustrated in Fig. 1;

Fig. 6 is an elevational view of the latching mechanism, taken in the direction of the arrow 6 of Fig. 5; and

Fig. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 7-7 of Fig. 1.

Referring to the drawings, a locking or latching assembly is illustrated which comprises a latch plate having a face plate 1 integral with a side plate 2. The assembly is mounted onto the free edge of a door and is adapted to cooperate with a latch pin or keeper mounted on the door frame to hold the door in its closed position. Openings 3 are provided in the face plate 1 for the attaching means, such as screws, for mounting the assembly on the door.

The elements forming the operating parts of the latching mechanism are mounted upon the integral plates 1 and 2. Pivoted bolt 4 is disposed on the outside of the plate 1 and is pivotally connected thereto by means of a pivot shaft 5. The pivot shaft 5 is received within a sleeve bearing 6, which in turn is received Within a flanged opening 7 forming in the plate 1. The outer end of the shaft 5 as flattened on its sides, as indicated at 8, and is received through a complementary-shaped Patented Nov. 1 6., 1 954 received within the recess 9, as shown in Fig; 6, and

cooperates with the pivot bolt 4 to latch the door closed. The lat'eh is illustrated in la'tching position in Figf o, and it will be "appreciated that the pivot' bolt 4 is t-urned to :the position shown in Fig. 6 by: a counterclockwise movement-of the'bolt 4, which is effected by engagement of the finger 10 by the latch-pin 12 asthe door is rclo'sed. Theziotted .line ipositio'n illustrates the position of the bolt-*4 when the mechanism is in itsunla'tched position.

@A ratc'het mem'ber '13 is disposed on the-opposite side of face plate :1 and "is mounted on a flattened portion of the-shaft 5 for-pivotal movement therewith, and for movement with the *bolt 4. The member -13:-has ratch'et teeth 14, 15 and 16 formed on one peripheral edge thereof.

A coil spring 17 is wound about the "shaft S-ag'ain'st the-adjacent face of member 13. The inner end of the spring 17 is received within-a slot in the shaft 5, as indicated-at 18, and the opp'o'site end ther'o'f -is'-received within-an opening and fixed to the side plate -2,-'as-indicated' at 20. The spring is so posit-ionedthat it resilientlyalrges the ratchet' 'm'ember 13 in a clockwise direction, viewing Figs. 1, 3 "and 4. Thus the'piv'ot bolt"'4 .is resiliently urged in a'counterclockwis'edirection, viewing Fig."'6.

A spring cover in the'form o'f a flat disk 21 is fixedly secured to the end of shaft 5 and :protectsand maintains the spring 17 in proper position. I

.A contactor, or dete'nt 'member 22 is pivotally mounted o'n the inside face of the face plate 1 in a position adjacent to the ratchet 'mernb'er 13 by-Ineans of a rivet 23. The detent member 22 is generally L-shaped an'd'ha's a pair of arms. 24-and 25 extending at substantially right angles :from the pivot 23. The arm 24 has a detent'26 formed on the under edge of arm24 and intermediate the outer end of the arm 24 and the pivot "23. The detent 26 is adapted to engage abutting faces of ratchet teeth 14, 1'51and 1'6 when the latching mechanism is 'in its various'positions. The arm -25 has -a' laterally projecting contactor flange27'the'reon which is adapted to be engaged 'byian'ac'tuating means to pivot 'the'detent-rnemi inrsidewall 2, as best shown in Fig; 2. By upward movement =of the projection 28 the detent member 22 may also beI'm'oved-in a clockwise direction, viewing-Fig." 3, so that such detent member may be controlled by movement of either arm 24 or 25 to unlatch the door.

The member 22 is resiliently urged to pivot about its pivot 23 in a counterclockwise direction, viewing Figs. 1, 3 and 4, by means of a hairpin spring 29, which has one end thereof fixed in an opening 30 in side plate 2. The spring is wound about the pivot 23 intermediate its ends, as indicated at 31, Fig. 7, and the opposite free end of gle spring 29 bears against the flange 27, as indicated at Thus, the action of the spring 29 is to effect a movement of the detent member 21 in a counterclockwise direction so that the detent 26 is urged into engagement with the ratchet teeth 14, 15 and 16.

In Fig. 1 the relative positions of the detent member 22 and the ratchet member 13 is the one that the parts assume when the mechanism is latched; that is, with the bolt 4 in the position shown in full lines in Fig. 6. In this position the door is latched closed. Also in this position the detent 26 is in abutting engagement with the ratchet tooth 14 so that the ratchet member 13 is held against movement and thus the latch pin 12 is engaged and the door cannot open.

In Fig. 4, the relative position of the detent member 22 and the ratchet plate 13 is one that the parts assume when the latch is in its opened position; that is, when the door may be opened and the bolt 4 is released from latching engagement with the pin 12. In this position the ratchet tooth 16 is in abutting relationship with the detent 26 and is thus held against further pivotal movement, and the member 13 is thus held against further pivotal movement in a clockwise direction.

In Fig. 3 a safety position is indicated which is intermediate the latching position shown in Fig. l, and the open position shown in Fig. 4. In this position the intermediate ratchet tooth 14 is in abutting engagement with the detent 26 and the bolt 4 is still in latching engagement with the pin 12, although the door is not completely closed.

As the latching mechanism is actuated to open or close the door, the members 13 and 22 pivot relative to each other between the positions shown in Figs. 1, 3 and 4. As these parts move relative to each other, and particularly as the parts move from the position shown in Fig. 4 to the position shown in Fig. 1, there is a clicking contact as the detent passes over the periphery of teeth 15 and 14; and without the provision of the present invention there would be a further clicking noise as the detent dropped down into its positions with respect to the ratchet teeth as the outer periphery of the teeth struck the adjacent surface of the under edge of arm 24. Arm 24 is at all times urged toward the adjacent periphery of the ratchet member 13.

In order to eliminate this objectionable noise, the under edge of the arm 24 is relieved by the removal of metal, as indicated at 33. A spring clip 34 has the inner end thereof disposed within a slot 35 formed in arm 24, with a flat spring portion spaced from the adjacent edge of arm 24 and with the flat spring overlying the toothed periphery of the member 13. The clip 34 has U-shaped spring arms 36 which resiliently embrace the opposite sides of the arm 24. The sides 36 have pointed projections 37 which will snap into depressions or holes in the sides of the arm 24 and prevent displacement of the clip from the slot 35.

As the arm 24 is urged toward the toothed periphery of the member 13, the projecting spring portion of the clip 34 abuts against the toothed periphery as the parts are moved between the positions shown in Figs. 1, 3 and 4. There is thus a resilient contact between the members and the member 34 acts as a shock absorber and sound deadener during this movement. The noise is substlantially reduced and the metallic clicking is eliminate When the door is closed and the mechanism is in its latching position, a button or other operating means may be operated to engage the flange 27 and move the detent arm 22 in a clockwise direction so that the engagement between the detent 26 and tooth 14, as shown in Fig. l, is released and the spring 17 acts to move the parts to the position shown in Fig. 4. This is the open position of the latching mechanism. When the door is closed, the

pin 12 engages in recess 10, eflecting a movement from the position 4 to the intermediate position shown in Fig. 3, and then to the position shown in Fig. 1. During this movement, the ratchet teeth are wiping over the adjacent face of the resilient sound deadener 34, and at the same time causing the pivot arm 22 to pivot about pin 23.

The contactor or detent member 22 may either be actuated through arm 25, or may be remotely actuated through a remote control lever 38. Such lever is shown at 38 and forms no part of the present invention, but it is illustrated as being mounted on the side plate 2; and by pivoting the remote control lever 38 about pivot 39 in a counterclockwise direction a projecting finger 40 engages the under edge of projecting flange 28, causing it to move upwardly and to move the detent finger 26 out of engagement with the ratchet teeth. In Fig. 2, the projection 28 is in a position it would assume when the mechanism is in its latching position. It may be locked in this position by means of a locking lever 40, which is pivoted to the face plate 2 by means of a ratchet 41. The upper end of the lever has a hooked portion 42 which, when the lever 40 is pivoted in a counterclockwise direction from that shown in Fig. 2, the hooked portion will be disposed immediately above the flange 28 and prevent movement of the contactor 22 to its unlatching position.

Formal changes may be made in the specific embodiment described without departing from the spirit of the invention, the scope of which is commensurate with the appended claim.

What is claimed is:

Latching mechanism comprising a plate, a movable bolt member mounted thereon for rotation relative thereto, a ratchet member having ratchet teeth and connected to said bolt for movement therewith, resilient means urging said ratchet member in one direction, means for moving said ratchet member in the opposite direction, a movable detent member mounted on said plate and having a detent movable into the spaces between and engageable with said ratchet teeth, spring means yieldably urging said detent member in a direction to move said detent into the spaces between said ratchet teeth, and a flat spring mounted on and movable with said detent memher, said fiat spring engaging said ratchet teeth and yieldably opposing movement of said detent member in said direction in response to said spring means to cushion engagement of said detent with said ratchet teeth upon moillaement of said detent into said spaces between said teet References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 304,203 Joerden Aug. 26, 1884 791,317 Campbell May 30, 1905 2,156,874 Schonitzer May 2, 1939 2,480,688 Allen Aug. 30, 1949 2,481,213 Gummersall Sept. 6, 1949 2,538,913 Roethel Jan. 23, 1951 

